Making a Difference in Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a widespread, global epidemic with far reaching consequences and lasting impacts on victims, perpetrators, families, communities, and nations. Futures Group aims to build the evidence base for cost-effective solutions to GBV, strengthen policies and policy actions to stop GBV and assist survivors, and strengthen systems and approaches to ensure that resources are directed to programs that work and reach those in need. Through its partnerships with research institutions, national and local governments, civil society organizations and networks, international assistance organizations, and the private sector, Futures Group promotes a comprehensive and coordinated response to tackling GBV at individual, community, and societal levels. Leveraging its core expertise in gender and health, Futures Group works in all regions of the developing world to address various forms of GBV including sexual violence, intimate partner violence, violence against children, violence against sexual minorities and among key populations, and female genital cutting (FGC).

Program Areas
population and family planning sexual and reproductive health maternal and child health hiv and aids infectious diseases gender poverty and equity

futures group offerings:

D  etermining what works: We conduct implementation science to assess the impacts of GBV community programs and health services, and translate research findings into policy and program recommendations. We develop and apply monitoring and evaluation approaches and tools to better understand and improve GBV programs and services. A  pplying what we know: We develop tools for acting on recommendations and designing GBV interventions in the context of HIV and reproductive health programming; and work with policymakers and program managers to apply these tools to implement and scale-up evidence-based interventions. U  nderstanding what it takes: Our tools and expertise in costing help to determine resource needs for providing a comprehensive set of services for GBV survivors and programs to prevent GBV. B  uilding support for action: We support development of national GBV policies and strategic plans, advocacy and resource mobilization for GBV policies and plans, and collaboration across sectors to build a unified, multi-sectoral response to GBV. S  trengthening capacity to broaden and sustain efforts: We provide technical assistance, training, and organizational support to national and local governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and research institutions, and foster leadership of individuals and communities for sustainable programs and solutions for tackling GBV.

Technical Services
policy and advocacy research and strategic information  health markets and private sector engagement modeling and economic analysis health systems strengthening strategic consulting program management

Record of Results:
In Mali, we trained religious leaders on common misconceptions and social rationales for FGC, and promoted a better understanding of its adverse health impacts on women and girls. The training enabled these key community leaders to advocate within their communities and government officials to end the practice. In Mozambique, we are assisting civil society organizations to integrate GBV interventions into their programs on HIV prevention and care and support to orphans and vulnerable children. In Jamaica, we are working with civil society and policymakers to raise awareness of linkages between GBV and HIV, to map and strengthen community GBV services and referral networks, and to address more broadly the unique vulnerabilities to GBV of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. In Tanzania, we have partnered with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders to develop national policy and management guidelines for the health sector response to GBV, which are now being rolled out nationally. In Iringa Region, we partnered with the Tanzania Rural Women and Children Foundation (TARWOC) to help strengthen operations of a community drop-in center for survivors of GBV and build monitoring and evaluation capacity to collect, analyze, and report information on community-level GBV activities and referrals to the center.

Futures Group One Thomas Circle, NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 U.S.A. tel 202.775.9680 fax 202.775.9694 Futures Group Europe, Ltd. 2nd Floor Turnberry House 100 Bunhill Row London, EC1Y 8ND U.K. tel +44(0) 20 7250 0556 fax +44(0) 20 7336 8742 Futures Group India, Pvt., Ltd. DLF Building No. 10-B, 5th Floor DLF Cyber City, Phase-II Gurgaon - 122002 (Haryana) India tel 91.124.4702000 fax 91.124.4702042

Approach in Action: Tanzania

Under the USAID-funded Project SEARCH Tathmini GBV, Futures Group is conducting a rigorous evaluation of the outcomes of selected GBV interventions supported by the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) GBV Initiative in Tanzania, and will facilitate the use of findings for policymaking and programming in Tanzania and globally. The evaluation focuses on two types of GBV highly prevalent in Tanzania: intimate partner violence and sexual violence against adults and children. The interventions to be evaluated include GBV programs and services for the prevention of GBV and care for survivors. Results of this evaluation will inform ongoing implementation and monitoring of the Tanzania National Plan of Action for the Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women and Children, 20012015. The evaluation is poised to make a significant contribution globally to the implementation science of GBV and HIV, advancing key principles of PEPFAR and the U.S. Global Health Initiative to do more of what works.

What Works for Women and Girls: Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions
Our comprehensive resource, What Works for Women and Girls: Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions presents data from more than 90 countries to guide donors, policymakers, and program managers in planning HIV/AIDS policies and programs for women and girls. It includes evidence addressing GBV as a risk factor for and consequence of HIV. whatworksforwomen.org

Regardless of the form that gender-based violence takes, it is a human rights violation or abuse, a public health challenge, and a barrier to civic, social, political, and economic participation.

Melanne Verveer, US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Womens Issues

Addressing GBV among key populations

GBV is not only an issue for women. Emotional, physical, and sexual violence is often perpetrated against men who have sex with men (MSM), transgenders, and male sex workers as a form of discrimination against their gender identities. Such violence increases their risk for HIV. However, healthcare providers have been slow to address the issue of GBV among MSM and transgenders either being unaware of their vulnerability to violence or reluctant to delve into these sensitive issues. Under the USAID | Health Policy Initiative, Futures Group developed a GBV Screening Tool in collaboration with health sector and community-based partners in Mexico and Thailandtwo countries with concentrated HIV epidemics among most at-risk populations, including MSM and transgenders. The tool helps healthcare providers identify MSM and transgenders affected by violence so that they can be linked to appropriate counseling and services. Testing of the tool in Mexico and Thailand revealed high levels of violence experienced among these groups, and helped identify and respond to gaps in the availability of appropriate GBV services designed specifically for MSM and transgenders by increasing health provider awareness, strengthening community linkages and referral networks, and supporting institution-level policy change.

A healthcare provider explains the GBV service referral network in Thailand.

March 2013
Futures Group, the global health consulting firm, helps to protect and promote peoples well-being around the world. For 40 years, Futures Group has created lasting solutions to some of the most pressing public health challenges facing nations. For more information, please visit www.futuresgroup.com, www.facebook.com/FuturesGroup, and www.twitter.com/FuturesGroupGbl.